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Luke 22:24–27
“Who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves” (v. 27).
Christ’s prediction of His betrayal should have put the disciples in a somber mood at His Last Supper (Luke 22:14–23). Instead of immediately reflecting on the news that one of the Twelve would betray Him, the disciples instead started to argue about which one of them “was to be regarded as the greatest” (v. 24). Apparently, this dispute occurred more than once during our Lord’s earthly ministry, for Matthew 20:20–28 and Mark 10:35–45 tell us about another occasion when concern for who would be the greatest in Christ’s kingdom occupied the disciples. Lest we look down on the Twelve as if we were above such arguments, we should note that throughout the history of the church, many people have sought to exalt themselves in the church.
The disciples’ argument provided a springboard from which Jesus could teach them the true nature of Christian leadership. First, He noted what leadership looked like among the “kings of the Gentiles,” explaining that such rulers would lord their authority over their subjects, demanding their service (Luke 22:25). In the church, things must be different. Jesus said, “Let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves” (v. 26). In the first-century context, the most menial tasks were reserved for the youngest people, so our Lord means that Christian leaders should not think themselves above certain kinds of work in the church. Leaders are to serve, using their position to benefit others and not to seek glory and power for themselves. Importantly, Jesus’ comments assume that there will be leaders, so He does not envision a church where everyone has the same authority. Yet He pictures a church in which even the leaders are called to do things that leaders in other contexts might consider beneath them. Matthew Henry comments, “Let [the leader] stoop to the meanest and most toilsome services for the public good, if there be occasion.”
Jesus then asked who was greater, the one who reclines at the table or the one who serves. The expected answer is that the one who is being served at the table is greater, and Jesus asked this, of course, as He Himself reclined at the table (v. 14). He is the greatest, and yet He came as One who serves, showing that true greatness in leadership is found in serving others. Cyril of Alexandria comments: “He who is ministered to became a minister. The Lord of glory made himself poor, leaving us an example.”
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
The work of the church often requires a division of labor among leaders and laity. At the same time, Christian leaders should always be willing to do the most menial or seemingly insignificant tasks when they are called to do so. To put it another way, no one who is completely unwilling to humble himself in service is fit for Christian leadership.
for further study
- 1 Samuel 16:14–23
- Psalm 84:10
- John 13:1–16
- Galatians 5:13–15
the bible in a year
- Jeremiah 49–50
- Hebrews 5:11–6:12